H. P. Jones to D. D. PENDLETON, A. A. G., Reserve Artillery, July 15, 1862
July 15, 1862.
Near Redoubt 3, July 15, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the part taken by this battalion of the Reserve Artillery in the late engagements before Richmond :
Having been assigned with the batteries of Capt. A. B. Rhett, P. H. Clark, and Jefferson Peyton (that of the latter under command of Lieut. C. W. Fry, in the absence of the captain, who is sick) to act as reserve to General D. H. Hillâs division, we left our camp, on the Williamsburg road, on the night of Wednesday, 25th ultimo, with the other batteries of the division, marching in the direction of Mechanicsville.
Captain Rhett had previously been ordered to report for duty with General Ripleyâs brigade, and with it, about 4 p.m. of Thursday, crossed the Chickahominy in advance of other troops of the division. He experienced some difficulty in crossing on account of the destruction of the bridges over the stream by the enemy. He succeeded, with the help of the Pioneer Corps, in rendering the bridge passable, and crossed with his batteries and engaged in a very spirited manner the enemyâs batteries, which he continued to do, changing his position whenever he found that the enemy had his range, until ordered to cease firing, about 9p.m. In this engagement he suffered from a cross-fire of the enemy, and had 11 men wounded and 6 horses. As soon as the passage was opened I crossed with the two remaining batteries and bivouacked for the night near Mechanicsville.
The next morning we were awakened by a few shots of the enemy, which passed over us without doing any damage. Receiving an order to send a battery to the top of the hill in rear and protected by one of the enemyâs redoubts, I ordered Captain Clark to this position. Here, with other batteries of the division, he fired several rounds at the earthworks of the enemy on the opposite side of a ravine in front of us, but received no reply.
The division then took up the line of march with the reserve batteries in the rear. The line was halted at Cold Harbor, and Captain Rhettâs battery was ordered to the front to support Capt. J. W. Bondurantâs battery, which was actively engaged with a battery of the enemy. I also ordered Captain Clark and Lieutenant Fry to bring their batteries up in easy supporting distance, sheltering them as much as possible from the fire of the enemy, which enfiladed the road, by placing them in aravine to the left of the road. Subsequently I ordered the two reserve batteries on the right of the line, Captain Rhett retaining his position, but by a new disposition of the forces being on the left. This new disposition of the line enabled the batteries to open on the enemy, which they could not do before, owing to our troops being between the enemyâs and our batteries. Captain Clark and Lieutenant Fry were still held in reserve to support the attack of the infantry, and here they were exposed to an annoying fire of the enemyâs battery which was to our leftand front. Captain Rhettâs, with other batteries of the division, engaged the enemyâs battery and soon succeeded in silencing it. In
Cuar. XXII.) SEVEN-DAYSâ BATTLES. 653
this he had 2 men and 1 horse killed and 3 wounded. We again bivouacked for the night in the position we had fought.
At 3 a.m. of Saturday we were ordered to move forward to a position at Dr. Gainesâ house, where we remained, expecting the enemyâs batteries to open on us, until 12 m., when we went forward and took position on the hill overlooking the approach to Grapevine Bridge. Here we remained until 2 a. m. Monday, when we commenced to cross the stream, the bridge over which had been destroyed by the enemy and had to be reconstructed by our men.
We continued the pursuit of the enemy until about 12 or 1 oâclock in the day, when we came up with him at White Oak Swamp. Here he occupied a position on the hill opposite, with twelve pieces in sight. All the batteries of the division and of the reserve, together with some from other divisions, were ordered to the front and engaged the enemy, forcing him to change his position in a very short time, which he did, leaving three of his guns disabled on the field.
Taking up a position to the right of his former one, or having other batteries there, he again opened on us, and the firing continued obstiuately, with slight intermissions, until night. In this position the batteries of my battalion were more exposed on account of the nature of the ground, and consequently suffered more than others. I should wention that Colonel Crutchfield was in command on this occasion.
Captain Rhett lost 2 men killed and 3 wounded; also 1 horse killed and 2 wounded. In the three engagements he expended 1,320 rounds. Captain Clark lost 1 man killed and 5 wounded. Two wheels were seriously damaged. Captain Clark at Mechanicsville and White Oak Swamp expended 392 rounds. Lieutenant Fry had 2 men wounded and 3 horses killed and fired 390 rounds of ammunition.
On Tuesday morning, the Ist instant, we were ordered back to Seven Pines to refit, where we remained until Thursday, the 3d, when we again joined the division below White Oak Swamp, and returned with it to our camp on the Williamsburg road on Thursday, the 10th instant.
It will be seen from this report that Captain Rhettâs battery was in three engagements, and the other two, although in but one, were still exposed to the fire of the enemy on another occasion.
I cannot speak in too high terms of the gallantry of the officers and men of the battalionânot only their gallantry on the field, but the cheerful spirit with which they endured the hardships of the eventful week. Asa proof of the heroic and dutiful spirit of the men I cite with pride the fact that during the whole time there was not a single straggler from the ranks.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Major, Commanding Battalion.
Capt. D. D. PENDLETON, A. A. G., Reserve Artillery.
No. 268.
Report of Capt. A. Burnet Rhett, South Carolina Battery, of the battles
of Mechanicsville and Gainesâ Mill and engagement at White Oak Swamp
Bridge.